Sunday, November 26, 2017

I was surfing on Comcast Sports Friday evening had it turned out they had the FIU-Western Kentucky game.

The Panthers dominated Western Kentucky 41-17. It was actually worse than that because FIU had pick-six negated by a very questionable roughing the passer call. Western Kentucky, you remember has a high-octane offense. FIU had five sacks and held WKU to 46 yards rushing. They had pressure on WKU's QB all game.

The C-USA announcers were raving about FIU QB Alex McGough who went 17-26 227 1 TD. McGough has been close to 70% completion rate over his last four games. He repeatedly ran out of WKU pressure. McGough did all this without his top-two receivers. He completed at least one pass to ten different FIU receivers.

Friday, November 24, 2017

One benefit of being an Independent is not being stuck with a MAC afternoon Black Friday game. Many people still have to work and many of the rest have orders from their spouse to do shopping or tag Christmas trees or the like.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

I'm thankful for my family and friends, my country---and my football team.

"Perhaps today will be the day when we experience happiness or wisdom. Don't try to grab that moment and hold on to it with all your might. It's not under your control how long it lasts. Enjoy it, recognize it, remember it. Having it for the moment is the same as having it forever."

Sunday, November 19, 2017

UMass defeated BYU in Provo in a defensive gem by the Minutemen defense. Before the game the BYU press was saying the Cougar offensive line was the best unit in the team. BYU had run for over 260 yards the game before against UNLV. The UMass defense held BYU to 42 yards after subtracting sack yardage. The Minutemen defense had seven sacks and eight tackles for loss. The UMass corners played great all game. Everyone flew to the ball. The defensive linemen had three batted balls.

The offense did just enough to win. I think we went into a shell a little too early, but the defense held and we beat a Power Five team for the first time.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

UMass has a chance for a historic win today. The relative strengths of the two programs are far closer than we expected before the season. UMass has scored points all year. The defense is playing better. Since Logan Laurant's Renaissance, the kicking game has improved mightily. When the kicking game got better, so did UMass.

Last year we killed ourselves with turnovers. The Minutemen's defense has been getting some of their own over the last four games. We need to stop the BYU running game and make a third-string QB try to beat us passing.

Nevertheless, beating what is essentially a Power Five team on their home field is a tall order. The altitude in Provo is another challenge. Last year the Minutemen were cramping up all over.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Last year the Cougars went 9-4 with victories over Arizona and Michigan State. They beat Wyoming 24-21 in the Poinsettia Bowl. This year, BYU is having a once-in-a-generation bad year for them. The Cougars are 3-8 with wins over FCS Portland State, San Jose State and UNLV. BYU is down to their third-string QB Joe Critchlow. However, their struggles started with starter Tanner Mangum. The Cougars are #120 in the nation in total offense. They are #61 in scoring defense allowing only 25.9 points a game.

BYU will want to run the ball with all-name team Squally Canada (5-11 217). He's gone 92-546 5.9 AVE 4 TD's. Canada ran for 213 yards and a 8.5 yards/carry against UNLV. Stopping Canada will be a priority for the UMass defense. BYU probably won't win a passing contest with UMass' offense.

A chance like this won't come very often. BYU has Power Five fan base and program. They should be in the Big 12 or PAC Ten. A win over the Cougars (even during this year) would be a major milestone for the Minutemen.

Matty Vautour says BYU presents another chance for revenge. I was there last year in Provo. The Minutemen played the Cougars even for the first half, then fell apart in the second ---really fell apart. Ford threw a INT for pick-six. We had a punt blocked to give BYU a short field. We fumbled two kick returns to give BYU more field position and we had a running-into-the-punter penalty that allowed another BYU scoring drive to continue. UMass gave away 28 points in second half.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Andy Isabella has gone 10-10 GP-GS 51-841 16.5 AVE 8 TD's 69 LONG 84.1 yards/game so far in 2017. Isabella's 8 TD's tie him with Jeremy Horne (2008) and Adrian Zullo (1998) for #10 in the UMass single season pass-reception touchdowns history. He needs 10 receptions more to break into the single season top ten in that category and 81 more reception yards make the top ten in single season receiving yards.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Well, this game felt like the game against Stony Brook back in 2010. You remember UMass went out to Michigan and gave the Wolverines all they could handle. However, the next week we played new FCS team Stony Brook and managed a 26-21 win over a team we were clearly superior to. UMass looked a little washed out after the big effort against Mississippi State. In addition, Ford was clearly not 100%. Comis was not dressed. Ray Thomas-Ishman Sr was not dressed due to an apparent one-game suspension (he was on the sidelines encouraging his teammates, so all is well with that).

It was a win and three wins ties our best record since joining FBS. We have two games left; wining one or both would show a clear improvement.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

UMass goes looking for the third win of the 2017 season. The Black Bears are a team we should beat. The Minutemen offense has averaged 29.1 points/game for the season and over 38 points for the last four games. Let's score early and work from the lead. The UMass defense has also played well recently. Some turnovers would help the Minutemen offense.

Although I won't be at Fenway due to my recent move, I'll be watching and cheering for the Minutemen.

The Black Bears beat UMass in 2011 and went 9-4 overall. Maine had another good year in 2013 going 10-3. They've gone 9-13 over the last two years. Maine lost to BC 24-3 in '15 and 45-3 to Toledo in 2016

Maine has always been a big, physical FCS team. They tend to surprise FBS teams who have never played them before. UMass has plenty of experience with them and should know what to expect. Unlike 2011, UMass should have more talent and speed. The Minutemen need to get on top early and not let Maine get going. It'll be a bowl game for the Black Bears, so they'll be motivated.

Sunday, November 05, 2017

Wow! Another great effort against an SEC team. The UMass defense just keeps getting better and better. We held State to 23 points and had two INT's. The Minutemen run defense was stout repeatedly held the Bulldogs to short gains. Fitzgerald did run effectively, but he does that to everyone. The defense did all this against a much bigger Mississippi State offense.

The offense too played well. Isabella was better than anyone State had. I though the O-line played well against a team with a five-star defensive lineman and very good team speed (when was the last time you saw someone catch Marquis Young from behind?). Mississippi State had only given up 24 points for the season at home.

I also liked the intensity of play by the Minutemen. UMass went right at 'em all game. Quote from Marquis Young:

“We don’t want moral victories. We don’t want ‘we almost had them,’ we want the win. Wecome out here and work hard every week at practice and we respect our opponent we respectwho we’re playing. We respect the SEC.”

Saturday, November 04, 2017

Well, today we play a game that pays the bills so that we can have a team to obsess about. Mississippi State will be the strongest team we've played against his year. Counting BYU, State will be the sixth Power Five team UMass has played in two years. When people comment on UMass' record, remind them that no other Group-of-Five team played the schedule we did.

The Minutemen need to not give up easy scores. Make State work for theirs. If the offense can string together some drives, we can make it close. UMass has played in a number of difficult environments the last two years. We can do so again. Wish I could be in Starksville today. Should be a fun atmosphere with that cowbell thing. I'll be watching and cheering for the Minutemen

Friday, November 03, 2017

The Bulldogs return six starters on offense and four on defense from a team that finished 7-5 overall and 3-5 in the SEC in 2016. This year they are 6-2 and 3-2 in the SEC and are being mentioned for a major bowl. There are a couple of reasons for Mississippi State's surge this year.

The other aspect of the Bulldogs renaissance is QB Nick Fitzgerald. At 6-5, 230 he takes dual-threat quarterbacking to a new level. Fitzgerald leads the Bulldogs in both rushing and passing. He averages 6.7 yards/carry and has scored 10 rushing TD's. In passing, he's gone 119-209-1320 56.9% 13 TD's 122.9 EFF, He has thrown 8 INT's. He averages 248 yards/game all by himself. The UMass defense will have to try to contain his running somewhat and play good pass defense. Make state work for their scores and not allow any easy big plays.

Mississippi State will be the best team UMass plays in 2017. I know the Minutemen will play hard and won't quit. UMass will need to generate some offense and get some turnovers to make the score respectable.

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